Keeping rodents away

By Thomas Hambleton

When fall hits, the animal kingdom prepares to survive the coming winter. Food and shelter become instinctively more important than ever for them, so rodent problems become more apparent in and around the house. There are various types of animals that will target the home. Some of the most common are mice, rats, and squirrels. Rodents have no problem finding shelter outside, but if they can find what they want inside they will go there. Animals are searching for two simple things: food and warmth. If you already have a rodent problem it’s recommended to contact a professional, but there are some practical and preventative things you can do to keep them from settling in your home – after all, they aren’t paying rent! Here are a few suggestions to make your home a little less rodent-friendly:

Inspect the exterior of your home for any holes and cracks. Seal up any holes that might let rodents in. This includes in and along the foundation, the walls, the roof or eaves, and vents. Seal up any and all possible entryways for rodents.2. Make sure your home is well-insulated inside and out. When rodents detect or sense warm air from a building, they will do almost anything to get inside. If there are areas in your home that are poorly insulated it will allow warm air to exit and attract animals. 3. Clean up and maintain your yard. Animals may be finding shelter right beside your home, which gets them one step closer to being inside your home. It’s a good idea to clean up any wood piles, leaf piles, trash can areas, and any other debris in or around your yard. 4. Make sure there are not any food sources around that would attract animals. If you have pets, keep in mind that when you leave a bowl of food out you also might be feeding other unwanted guests!5. The market is full of products and contraptions such as traps, poison bait and even natural repellents. These methods can be a little more aggressive, but are effective nonetheless.

Hopefully some of these tips will help you prepare for keeping pesky rodents out of your house this winter!

Animals may be finding shelter right beside your home, which gets them one step closer to being inside your home.